parent pleaser

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parent pleaser
By Carolyn

I hear you! I have worked at several schools in the last 15 years and have seen this happen so often! The principal doesn't feel he has to please you, because you don't have the power that the parents do. I really do believe
that many principals are afraid of the parents, since they can get them fired. I haven't heard of teachers getting a principal fired. I think the teachers are more afraid of the principal, especially in non-union states, such as where I work.
I have been in the situation many times where the parents have violated the chain of command and gone straight to the principal. Then

I end up getting called to the office and having to talk with the parent, anyway. It is unnerving when you know that you and the parent alone could have handled the situation without the principal.

What I really hate is when the principal and the parent(s) get together without you and you are not there to defend yourself or explain yourself. This has happened to me a few times, too.

While I am not offering solutions, I do want you to know that you are not alone in this situation. I think it happens everywhere.